Psalm 35

LORD plead my righteous cause with those
That are with me at strife:
O fight against my mortall foes
That fight against my life.
Lay hold of buckler, and of shield,
My help stand up unto:
Draw out the Spear and keep the field
Against them that pursue.
Say to my soul, I'm thy defence,
Let shame their hopes controul.
Confusion be their recompence,
That seek to hurt my soul.
Let thy fierce hand them backward strike,
Confusion may they finde
Who seek my hurt, let them be like
The chaff before the winde.
Let Gods swift Angel make pursuit,
Close at their heels I say:
Them let Gods Angel persecute
In dark and slipp'ry way.
For causlesly within a pit,
A net for me they hid:
Even for my soul they digged it,
And this they causless did.
O let destruction unawares
Upon this monster fall:
And let him, having hidden snares,
Be taken therewithall.
Even that destruction LORD decree,
That he fall in the same:
And then my soul shall joyfull be
In Gods all-mighty Name.
And joy in his salvation much,
And all my threat'ned bones
Shall say, What other God is such
Who saves the needy ones?
Thou helpest him that stands in need,
From foes that are too strong:
The poor from spoilers thou hast free'd,
And wretched men from wrong.

2. Part.
MOst wicked men against me rise,
To witness things untrue:
And charge me with iniquities,
Whereof I nothing knew.
They did reward my good with ill,
My love with hate requite:
And sought my souls destruction still,
With utmost of their might.
But I their sickness did condole,
In sackcloth fasted, mourn'd:
The pray'r of mine afflicted soul.
Into my bosome turn'd.
I for my foe behaved mee,
As for my friend or brother:
I bow'd down heavily, as he
That mourneth for his mother.
But they rejoyced in my woe,
And were together got:
Base abjects, when I did not know,
They tore me ceasing not.
With mocking hypocrites at feasts,
They gnash't their teeth at me:
O Lord how long shall these vile beasts
Both seen and suffered be?
Destroying Lyons ô defeat,
My darling soul defend:
I'l praise thee in assemblies great,
Where multitudes attend.

3. Part.
LEt not my wrongfull enemies
Lift up their horn on high:
Nor let them wink with scornfull eies
that hate me causlesly.
Deceitfull things they take in hand,
Against such men they plot
As are most quiet in the land,
For peace they utter not.
Yea they their mouths have op'ned wide
Against me spitefully:
Aha, Aha, mine en'mies cri'd,
We saw it with our ey.
This thou hast seen, no silence keep,
Lord from me be not far:
Stir up thy self, awake from sleep,
And come to Judgement-bar.
My Lord my God, move to my cause,
Judge me ô Lord my God,
According to thy righteous laws,
Nor suff'r it undertrod.
Nor suffer them in heart to say,
Ah, we would have it thus:
Nor let them say, he's made a prey,
He's swallowed up by us.
With shame confound them gen'rally,
With self-confusion clad:
Themselves who'gainst me magnifie,
And at my hurt are glad.
Let them be glad, and shout for joy,
With my just cause that side:
Yea, let them say continually
The LORD be magnifi'd.
Who joys in's servants prosp'rous state;
And then my gratefull tongue
Thy righteousness shall celebrate
With praises all day long.